gijoe1313's Blogs

So now that you have read all the good bits, I expect that I am not extrapolating the last of my ride to an empty room … oh look, a tumbleweed just went by … and the chirp of a grasshopper … verily well, I shall still potter on about the last bit of the trip in my own interminable fashion then!

Out to Waiouru again, all was good, the carpet of snow showed just how much fell quickly – I was now caught in a logjam of vehicles that were trying to push through the adverse driving conditions and make up some time. A lot of heavy traffic saw me take much longer to get through this area then when I did it alone at night, in the driving rain, hail and snow! Go figure!

At the intersection of SH4 and SH47, there was a massive snarl up of vehicles, all vying for a break in the traffic and queues of vehicles trying to get out of the local servo, I bided my time, watched people put snow chains on until the police directing traffic waved us through.

It was around Owhango I noticed the first signs of bikers heading south (Cold Kiwi?), quite a few in fact by the time I got to Taumarunui. And there again, I … yes, please, all together now … stopped at the BP. I took much time stripping off my rain gear and was now nattily revealed in my best red camo ninja pajamas again! Huzzah!

Most bemused were the looks of motorists around me, it’s as if they have never seen a red camo ninja biking around!

With the sun in full stride, I boldly rode the Predator around the drying roads of Te Kuiti and Otorohanga, the roads got better and better and Cindi cried out her song of freedom, inline four engine yowling to the countryside, tyres biting into the road, seeking grip and driving through the apexes as the culmination of the man-machine interface interwove our existences together.

Sweeping were the curves, technical in some sections, judicious application of wisdom over invigoration, nerves holding, spirit lifting! Jaunty cocksure waves and nods from opposite riders, also living in the moment – the flowing, sinuous dance of physics with the balletic display of grace in movement, these are the songsheet of my biking nirvana, each note of the engine is a counterpoint to the rise and fall of the forks, the pistoning action of the shock is the heavy bass of the demands on the rear, smooth lines, no braking were the coda of this fine orchestra of rider, machine and environment! Excelsior Gloria! Digitus impudicus to the demands of hum-drum soul stealing mendacities of life! To ride is to live! To live to ride! To always live to keep on riding!

So yeah, went like that a bit up to Ngaruawahia where I refuelled at the BP and took the back way home to D’orkland. I pulled up at DONOR’s place to have a bit of a yarn before booking it back to my batcave and have a shower and rinse off the bike a bit more.

So that’s it, just another typical ride for me.

Hang about.

It’s Vuja de, I’ve never done anything like this before!

I buy a bike on Friday. I ride it out to Wellington. In the driving rain, hail then snow (with ice!) I crash the bleedin’ thing. I keep riding it back to D’orkland.

Heh, if I didn’t know myself better, I’d say I wouldn’t have changed a thing. But, I know I would be lying to myself. I should have kept riding all the way up to Cape Reinga and back! (no, that couldn’t be done, I had done 1450km or so on my first ride out .. I’m sure the boys at Botany wouldn’t be too appreciative of me going so far past the 1000km service like that!)

And that ends the tale. I commend those who have taken the time to read this, when they could have been so easily riding instead! So, a tip of my hat goes to them and a most gracious bow to the biking gods. They were definitely making sure I was worthy of my new steed!

CB1000R Predator, aka Cindi aka Sassy Bitch … I salute you! Long may I be worthy of your attentions!